Third refusal for Leeds angling academy

Ambitious plans to create a fishing academy in Leeds have been blown out of the water for a third time.

Lifelong fishing fan Adrian Addy lodged plans to turn the disused Billing Dam in Rawdon into the first academy of its kind in Yorkshire, promoting the sport and training future stars of fishing.

And after being turned down twice since last October, Leeds City Council’s South and West Plans Panel voted to refuse the proposals yesterday.

The development includes a visitor centre and a house as part of the application, on Green Belt protected land.

Coun Caroline Gruen, chairwoman of the panel, told the meeting: “Whilst there is in principle support for businesses such as this, what is absolutely crucial to allow planning permission for building a dwelling in green belt is a viable business case.

“We don’t believe that the evidence in front of us on the third occasion is very much different to that which was in front of us on the first.”

Mr Addy, a businessman who holds a QCF Level 2 angling coaching qualification, had two previous decisions deferred by councillors for him to could come up with a revised application.

After the decision, he told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “The disappointment for me is it is just a complete and utter lack of vision.

“Time after time they have asked us to change the design which we have done.

“We have jumped through hoops. The positives outweigh the negatives tenfold.

“It will be a disappointment to the whole community and fishing fraternity because there has been that much support.”